Southern Oregon Equestrian Drill Team Association

06/19/2026

Next up for our board introductions: our parade coordinator, Kathy!

Kathy has loved and ridden horses since she was a kid. Although she didn't have a horse in her life for about 20 years, she is so blessed to have found her way back into the equestrian world. She never got involved in equestrian sports when she was younger, so being involved in an organization like SODA is all new for her.

SODA has a great group of ladies on the board, and Kathy is looking forward to learning everything about drill team competitions from them. To her, she’s always thought of drill as a way of dancing with a horse. She sees a long future ahead for S.O.D.A., and she is excited to be a part of the team putting this together. She wants to do everything she can to make it a success for future generations to experience the feeling of doing something so beautiful.

06/18/2026

Big teams are impressive—but small teams are powerful too.

Smaller teams give riders the opportunity to develop strong communication, precision, and teamwork while making drill more accessible to new groups and communities.

Every successful drill program starts somewhere, and many begin with just a handful of dedicated riders.

At SODA, we're excited to create opportunities for teams of all sizes to grow and succeed.

06/17/2026

🐴 Horse of the Week: 🐴

For our first horse of the week, you may recognize this boy from some of our previous posts! We absolutely adore this boy (and his wonderful owner!)

“Silver, age 24. Favorite treat is grain!!! We’ve been doing drill and parades since he was 5 years old, although we stick to parades these days. Fun fact: His eyelids are tatooed black to help with glare from the sun and as skin cancer prevention”

06/16/2026

What makes a great drill teammate?

It's not always the fastest horse or the most experienced rider.

Great teammates encourage others, show up ready to work, communicate respectfully, and support the team's goals.

Drill is built on trust—both in the saddle and among teammates.

What's the best quality you've seen in a teammate?

06/15/2026

📚 Drill Term of the Week

Today's term: Company Front

A Company Front occurs when all riders move forward in a straight line abreast, maintaining equal spacing and alignment across the arena.

It may sound simple, but maintaining straightness, spacing, and timing takes practice and teamwork!

What drill term would you like us to explain next?

06/12/2026

50/50 we will be selling tickets at our local livestock Auction!!! Come on down amazing event!!

June sale announcement! We look forward to a great day with everyone!
Stay tuned for further details, announcements and pre consignments!

06/12/2026

Raised in Grants Pass, Victoria grew up on a small farm. In her early years, she had ponies, rabbits, chickens, and pigs (which of course involved all the barn chores). At 14, her mom got me a piano! The down side was, she sold her horse. You can take away the horse, but not the passion. 40 years and some hard knocks later, Victoria was blessed with an Arab named Taz who is still with her. She now also has a 9 year old Devils Garden mustang named Aries.

Victoria loves dabbling in all things horse! She started doing trails, then through new friends, got involved with play days and gymkhanas. Then came the McCaslin Rodeo. She’s been either on the ground helping or carrying flags. Then came parades (Aries loves a good parade). Now she’s happy to be a part of Southern Oregon Equestrian Drill Association and excited to see this valley thrive and compete in something new, bringing out-of-town competitors in.

Victoria is honored to be a part of new growth and also humbled that she gets to be involved in such a way that involves today's youth.

06/11/2026

Ever wonder what judges are looking for during a drill performance?

While scoring systems vary, some common elements include:
⭐ Alignment and Spacing
⭐ Timing and Coordination
⭐ Equine Manners and Performance
⭐ Horsemanship
⭐ Overall presentation
⭐ Degree of Difficulty

A great pattern isn't just about speed; it's about riders and horses working together with precision and confidence.

What do you think is the most challenging part of a drill pattern?

06/10/2026

🐴 Horse of the Week 🐴

We want to celebrate the horses that make drill possible!

Drop a photo of your drill horse in the comments along with:
• Their name
• Age
• Favorite treat
• One fun fact

We may feature some of our favorites in future posts!

Let's meet the equine partners behind the patterns. 🤍

06/09/2026

Drill teaches so much more than riding skills. 🐎

Through drill, youth riders learn teamwork, communication, responsibility, sportsmanship, and leadership. They discover how to work toward a common goal, support their teammates, and develop confidence both in and out of the arena.

The horsemanship skills are important, but the life skills often last even longer.

What's something drill taught you that you still use today?